Opinion Pick 5* 2024 – Who do you want? (profiles and consensus rankings included)

[Scythe94]

Updated Draft Tracker with combine results, talent league stats and consensus rankings

 

[Scythe94]

New Herald Sun mock added to tracker

 

[Scythe94]

A 193cm utility that clunks marks is hardly a reach a pick 6.

He'd be my pick if FOS and Lalor are of the board.

Outside of Ashcroft and FOS, none of the mids project to develop into A graders in my view.

I'd be stunned if Smith doesn't become a very good AFL player.

 

[mickent1]

I'd be stunned if Smith doesn't become a very good AFL player.

I’d be stunned if every draft watcher in the country, without exception, had it all wrong and that this crop of midfielders wasn’t one of the best coming through the draft in years

 

[Grimey Sylvia]

I'd be stunned if Smith doesn't become a very good AFL player.

Fully agree. Agility, balance and fast feet, quick decision maker, great awareness and neat by hand and foot.

He was given feedback mid year that he was accumulating a lot of possessions without enough damage and he became more damaging in back half of year, getting forward more, kicking and setting up goals.

What I really like is how he sticks tackles for his size and how often he comes away with the ball in a contest that he had no right to win. Pure competitor.

I also like Draper but in comparison he looks to miss or fall off on a lot of tackles. Worry that he might be too much of a one way player.

 

[TheBoss]

I’d be stunned if every draft watcher in the country, without exception, had it all wrong and that this crop of midfielders wasn’t one of the best coming through the draft in years

Watchers rate this years depth. Not the quality.

 

[Fork n Hell]

He was given feedback mid year that he was accumulating a lot of possessions without enough damage and he became more damaging in back half of year, getting forward more, kicking and setting up goals.

that's interesting, a lot of the tapes i watched of Smith i thought the same thing; yeah, he racks it up, but he doesn't really hurt you. just like our other mids. but after hearing that he's been improving on that, i'm a bit more interested in him maybe falling to us now. might have to watch some more tapes from later in the year.

 

[Crusty Demon]

Watchers rate this years depth. Not the quality.

Ashcroft looks like the only sure fire elite player this draft. Not that there isn't quality behind him, it bats deep by all assessments, but Ashcroft looks the only lock for elite status. Draper and Smith look next best to me with Tauru and Hotton having the most x factor in regards to ceiling. Both could be huge. Not sure we have any Sheezels or McKerchers in this draft. Time will tell.

 

[markm106]

Ashcroft looks like the only sure fire elite player this draft. Not that there isn't quality behind him, it bats deep by all assessments, but Ashcroft looks the only lock for elite status. Draper and Smith look next best to me with Tauru and Hotton having the most x factor in regards to ceiling. Both could be huge. Not sure we have any Sheezels or McKerchers in this draft. Time will tell.

It’s a real kick in the nuts to have pick one but not have access to the best player.

 

[Crusty Demon]

It’s a real kick in the nuts to have pick one but not have access to the best player.

I like the Father/Son rule, but i still feel the first round should be completely uncompromised. Absolutely wild the premiers get the standout junior, plus as a bonus another kid who is likely to be a very good player in the first round also.

 

[mickent1]

Watchers rate this years depth. Not the quality.

Disagree. They rate the quality and the depth. There will be a lot of gun players coming out of this draft, especially midfielders

 

[Andy_Mac]

I like the Father/Son rule, but i still feel the first round should be completely uncompromised. Absolutely wild the premiers get the standout junior, plus as a bonus another kid who is likely to be a very good player in the first round also.

Said it before and i'll say it again.

Since moving to Brissie, and my kids are now playing footy in and around the older junior age groups, the volume of kids and in turn the talent up here is crazy. It's the equivalent of Geelong having a free hit at every kid that plays for the Falcons. Actually it's worse, because there are a shitload more kids playing AFL in SEQ than on Geelong and the Surfcoast.

I can't wait to see some of the Islander boys that are coming through hit the radar. They are athletic freaks.

 

[Mich0]

Ashcroft looks like the only sure fire elite player this draft. Not that there isn't quality behind him, it bats deep by all assessments, but Ashcroft looks the only lock for elite status. Draper and Smith look next best to me with Tauru and Hotton having the most x factor in regards to ceiling. Both could be huge. Not sure we have any Sheezels or McKerchers in this draft. Time will tell.

Hotton is this years Sheezal. Exactly what we need.

 

[Crusty Demon]

Hotton is this years Sheezal. Exactly what we need.

You could be right. Rate him highly. Will be very happy if we take him at 9.